The
Irascible ProfessorSM

Irreverent
Commentary on the State of Education in America Today

by
Dr. Mark H. Shapiro

Breaking
News - May 6, 2002: The Academic Senate
of the California State University System Votes Unanimously to Oppose SB
1646.

The Irascible
Professor has obtained a copy of the following resolution, which was passed
unanimously by the statewide Academic Senate of the California State University
system at its May 2-3, 2002 meeting. The resolution opposes the passage
of California Senate Bill SB
1646, which would require California State University campuses to offer
an undergraduate degree in "elementary education" in place of the current
law (Ryan Act) that requires candidates for elementary teaching credentials
to obtain an undergraduate degree in an academic subject either before
or concurrently with completing their credential work.

RESOLVED:
That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU)
oppose SB 1646 (Alpert) as amended in Senate, April 1, 2002; and be it
further

RESOLVED: That
the ASCSU support efforts to prepare qualified teachers in a timely manner;
and be it further

RESOLVED: That
the ASCSU pledge to work collaboratively with Senator Dede Alpert and other
educational policy makers to further our shared agenda; and be it further

RESOLVED: That
the ASCSU send this resolution and accompanying rationale to Senator Alpert
and the Senate Education Committee.

RATIONALE: This
bill would mandate an undergraduate major in elementary education at every
public postsecondary institution in California. Further it provides
direction for the content and administration of those programs. In
its recognition of the critical need for qualified teachers and implementation
of SB 2042, the ASCSU supports efforts to prepare qualified teachers in
a timely manner. For the same purpose, blended teacher preparation
programs have been established on CSU campuses through collaboration and
cooperation between education and subject matter faculty. Further
development of alternative routes to teacher credentials should build upon
existing programs and collaborations.

Our specific concerns
in regard to SB 1646 are:

Control of curriculum,
determination of administrative structures, and quality of programs are
properly academic matters.

Substitution of
mandated undergraduate majors in Elementary Education for the (current)
Ryan Act's prohibition of such majors is excessive. The current language
in the bill could result in a significant negative consequence for student
financial aid, e.g., Pell Grants.

Ed.
note: Dede Alpert (D. San Diego) is the primary sponsor of SB 1646.
She also was one of the primary sponsors of SB
2042, which permitted elementary education credential candidates to
enroll in "Blended Teacher Education Programs (BTEP)". Students in
BTEP can complete the initial credential requirements simultaneously with
the completion of an undergraduate degree in an academic major.